INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Offensive lineman Jared Veldheer of Hillsdale runs the 40 yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine presented by Under Armour at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2010 in ... more

Photo: Scott Boehm, Getty Images

Tackle of future takes turn at center

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The sight of a 6-foot-8 center could be a little comical. We'd swear 6-foot Raiders backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowskiwas bouncing as he dropped back to pass the other day, trying to get a look past rookie Jared Veldheerup front.

Veldheer, Oakland's third-round pick out of Hillsdale College (Mich.), might be the team's left tackle of the future, but he's learning how to play center at training camp. He played a little center in high school and scoffs at the notion that he might be too big to hike the quarterback the ball and then stand in front of him.

"You're never too big, too small, too fat, too skinny to play anything," he said. "If you can play a spot, you can play a spot."

Veldheer would be the tallest center in the NFL, looming over Baltimore's 6-6 Matt Katula, but he wouldn't be the first extra-large center to wear the Silver and Black. Don Mosebar, who is 6-6, made the Pro Bowl three times in 13 years with the Raiders before losing vision in his eye after an inadvertent poke in a 1995 preseason scrimmage.

How soon, or if, Veldheer becomes the next Mosebar will be known once preseason games start. Cable said he won't know if starter Samson Sateleshould start sweating until Cable sees the rookie in action.

"That's an exciting young lineman," said Cable, who likes the idea of Veldheer locking up with huge defensive tackles. "He's got a tremendous future. I'm anxious to watch him play, to be quite honest with you."

Veldheer was a little surprised at the move.

"It's been going well," he said, "I have been getting used to the switch from playing on the outside to playing on the inside. It's a little different mentality. You have to make the calls and set your offensive line. You have to know your stuff."

Veldheer, who didn't give up a sack in college until an All-Star Game after his senior season, will know the blocking schemes so well that he could even play guard.

"If you know left tackle and you know center, you're probably going to know what your guards are doing, too," he said. "You can step in and fill any spot on the line if there's ever a problem."

Briefly: Offensive tackle Robert Gallery(ankle) and defensive tackle Richard Seymour(back spasms) didn't practice. Reserve receiver Jonathan Hollandhas a sprained ankle after thinking the injury was much worse. ... Rookie defensive end Lamarr Houstonwill play fullback in some goal-line situations, Cable said. ... NFL officials stopped by to go over the new rules. They're looking to stop defensive players from launching into offensive ones. Safety Mike Mitchell, who loves the big hit, was told to pay close attention to that part of the presentation.